Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Gavin Hamilton has been reviewing the men’s summer.
Gavin Hamilton believes Yorkshire’s men have got to the stage of evolution rather revolution.
Hamilton is happy with the progress the county have made in two years under head coach Anthony McGrath and has reiterated the point so many from within the camp have made recently that, ‘We’re not far away’.
Yorkshire ended 2026 by finishing fifth in the Rothesay County Championship added to quarter-final finishes in both the Vitality Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. They won their last three Championship matches of the summer, including against Somerset and Nottinghamshire, who went into the final fortnight of the summer chasing the title.
“I think the Blast has been a real highlight for me,” said general manager of cricket Hamilton. “I think we’re one of the best teams in the country in white-ball.
“We can talk about the quarter-final (Blast, Somerset), and you know you win that nine times out of 10 don’t you.
“But the way we’ve won games – the manner we’ve won games and we’re winning games in positions we wouldn’t have done last year – the progress has been outstanding.
“I think we’re going to keep the same core going into next year.
Picture by John Heald. Captain Jonny Bairstow and his team celebrate victory over Nottinghamshire on Saturday afternoon.
“I think Hassan will be coming back, hopefully, and then add one more (overseas) to strengthen that.
“Mo and AJ and Hassan have been absolutely superb on and off the field.
“The decision-making, I think it’s just been really clinical in the way we’ve gone about our business in white-ball.
“In terms of steps forward in the red-ball, there are areas we need to work on. It’s all there to be seen again. We need to get more runs.
“I think another 15 to 20 batting points in the County Championship, we could be well up there.
“We’re only one win away from being first or second. So it’s those small margins.
“Mags touched on it around our overseas options.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. So nearly but yet so far in 2026 for Yorkshire’s men.
“We do need stability in that top order. That’s all, because we’ve chased too many games this year with the bat.
“I appreciate the pitches aren’t ideal. It is tough, but it’s the same for every county, and it’s something where we’ve got to find ways. Our top order have to find ways to adapt because nothing’s going to change. The pitches are going to continue to be like this.
“We’re in a good position, and these are the little things.
“It’s just adding those and getting the right personnel, even if it just means chopping up the batting order.”
As much as Yorkshire impressed in September, and even earlier for example when they beat Surrey so convincingly at Headingley in May, there were frustrations.
Hampshire at home was a bad loss, Warwickshire and Leicestershire away too.
“Very up and down,” said Hamilton. “But I look at the Championship now, and that gap from last year is a lot smaller than what it was. I think we’ve built momentum.
Picture by Bruce Rollinson/SWPix.com. A fabulous personal summer for George Hill.
We’re in a really nice position where we can fine-tune now and just fill those little gaps.
“I think we’ve got a good core and, more importantly, we’ve got the right personnel we want now. I think we’ve obviously moved and signed a couple, and they’re the people we feel will come with us over the next two years.
“I’m really confident in the direction.
“I’m really confident in the players, the coaching staff – the men and women
“For anybody who knows and sees cricket, you can see it, you get a feel with the way they handle themselves.”
A signing Yorkshire have made is seamer James Taylor from Surrey.
And talking of Surrey, Hamilton was asked if there were any specific matches or performances which stood out for him throughout 2026.
Picture by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images. James Taylor is coming to Yorkshire in 2027.
“That performance against Essex a couple of weeks ago was as clinical as it gets,” added Hamilton. “And Surrey at home.
“They were the two real statements that the lads have made this year.
“They’re not just wins, they’re real wins against some very good sides.”
